Ten must-watch films at Dubai International Film Festival

  • <b>Life of Pi</b><br> The opening film of this year’s festival is the cinematic masterpiece based on the 2001 best-seller by Yann Martel. Directed by filmmaker extraordinaire Ang Lee, Life of Pi tells the story of a young man’s survival at sea, sharing a lifeboat with none other than a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. Praised for its spectacular special effects and use of CGI, this film is must-see.
    1/10

    Life of Pi

    Life of Pi
    The opening film of this year’s festival is the cinematic masterpiece based on the 2001 best-seller by Yann Martel. Directed by filmmaker extraordinaire Ang Lee, Life of Pi tells the story of a young man’s survival at sea, sharing a lifeboat with none other than a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. Praised for its spectacular special effects and use of CGI, this film is must-see.
    jason
  • <b>Hitchcock </b><br> Anthony Hopkins transforms into master storyteller Alfred Hitchcock in this stunning biopic also starring Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson and Jessica Biel. The film tracks the love story between one of Hollywood’s most influential filmmakers and his wife Alma Reville as he films suspense classic Psycho.
    2/10

    Hitchcock

    Hitchcock
    Anthony Hopkins transforms into master storyteller Alfred Hitchcock in this stunning biopic also starring Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson and Jessica Biel. The film tracks the love story between one of Hollywood’s most influential filmmakers and his wife Alma Reville as he films suspense classic Psycho.
  • <b>The Sapphires</b><br> Get ready to sing and dance as DIFF's closing film is an uplifting musical extravangaza from Australia that tells the tale of four Aboriginal girls who form the fabulous all-girl group The Sapphires and the down-on-his-luck Irish musician who discovers them.
    3/10

    The Sapphires - still

    The Sapphires
    Get ready to sing and dance as DIFF's closing film is an uplifting musical extravangaza from Australia that tells the tale of four Aboriginal girls who form the fabulous all-girl group The Sapphires and the down-on-his-luck Irish musician who discovers them.
  • <b>Wadjda </b><br> Directed by the first ever female Saudi filmmaker, Haifaa Al Mansour, Wadjda features an all-Saudi cast and was shot entirely in Saudi Arabia. The film follows a 10-year-old school girl who challenges her country’s traditions.
    4/10

    Wadjda

    Wadjda
    Directed by the first ever female Saudi filmmaker, Haifaa Al Mansour, Wadjda features an all-Saudi cast and was shot entirely in Saudi Arabia. The film follows a 10-year-old school girl who challenges her country’s traditions.
  • <b>Amour</b><br> The winner of the Cannes Palme d'Or this year, this French drama is a poignant story of love and loss that follows two married classical music teachers in their eighties as they struggle with age and illness. Directed by Michael Hanke, the film explores the true meaning of life and what it means to love.
    5/10

    Amour

    Amour
    The winner of the Cannes Palme d'Or this year, this French drama is a poignant story of love and loss that follows two married classical music teachers in their eighties as they struggle with age and illness. Directed by Michael Hanke, the film explores the true meaning of life and what it means to love.
  • <b>Cirque Du Soleil: World’s Away 3D</b><br> Backed by Avatar director, James Cameron, this fantasy love story brings together the wonders of the stage with the magic of the big screen, all in immersive 3D. As the aerial gymnasts tell their story through leaps and bounds, the audience is sure to be amazed.
    6/10

    Cirque Du Soleil: Worlds Away 3D

    Cirque Du Soleil: World’s Away 3D
    Backed by Avatar director, James Cameron, this fantasy love story brings together the wonders of the stage with the magic of the big screen, all in immersive 3D. As the aerial gymnasts tell their story through leaps and bounds, the audience is sure to be amazed.
  • <b>The Master</b><br> Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson of There Will Be Blood fame, The Master is a chilling drama about a World War II veteran who struggles to return to society played by Joaquin Phoenix. In the midst of finding himself, he discovers a new religious cult and strikes a relationship with its erudite leader, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman.
    7/10

    The Master

    The Master
    Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson of There Will Be Blood fame, The Master is a chilling drama about a World War II veteran who struggles to return to society played by Joaquin Phoenix. In the midst of finding himself, he discovers a new religious cult and strikes a relationship with its erudite leader, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman.
  • <b>Rust and Bone</b><br> Starring Oscar-winning French actress Marion Cotillard (recently seen in The Dark Knight), Rust and Bone is a gritty, emotional romance between a whale-trainer who loses both her legs in a freak accident and a single father.
    8/10

    Rust and bone

    Rust and Bone
    Starring Oscar-winning French actress Marion Cotillard (recently seen in The Dark Knight), Rust and Bone is a gritty, emotional romance between a whale-trainer who loses both her legs in a freak accident and a single father.
  • <b>Hyde Park on Hudson</b><br> Bill Murray and Laura Linney star in this amusing period film that centres on US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his relationships with the women around him, particularly a distant cousin with whom he is reportedly having an affair. Add in a royal visit from the reigning British monarch and this becomes a must watch for any fans of history.
    9/10

    Hyde Park on Hudson

    Hyde Park on Hudson
    Bill Murray and Laura Linney star in this amusing period film that centres on US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his relationships with the women around him, particularly a distant cousin with whom he is reportedly having an affair. Add in a royal visit from the reigning British monarch and this becomes a must watch for any fans of history.
  • <b>Thy Womb </b><br> Thy Womb (Sinapupunana) is the critically-acclaimed Filipino drama starring Nora Aunor and directed by renonwned filmmaker Brilliante Mendoza, tells the story of a midwife who struggles with her own infertility.
    10/10

    MMFF 2012:

    Thy Womb
    Thy Womb (Sinapupunana) is the critically-acclaimed Filipino drama starring Nora Aunor and directed by renonwned filmmaker Brilliante Mendoza, tells the story of a midwife who struggles with her own infertility.
    Centerstage Production, Inc.
<b>Life of Pi</b><br> The opening film of this year’s festival is the cinematic masterpiece based on the 2001 best-seller by Yann Martel. Directed by filmmaker extraordinaire Ang Lee, Life of Pi tells the story of a young man’s survival at sea, sharing a lifeboat with none other than a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. Praised for its spectacular special effects and use of CGI, this film is must-see.
<b>Hitchcock </b><br> Anthony Hopkins transforms into master storyteller Alfred Hitchcock in this stunning biopic also starring Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson and Jessica Biel. The film tracks the love story between one of Hollywood’s most influential filmmakers and his wife Alma Reville as he films suspense classic Psycho.
<b>The Sapphires</b><br> Get ready to sing and dance as DIFF's closing film is an uplifting musical extravangaza from Australia that tells the tale of four Aboriginal girls who form the fabulous all-girl group The Sapphires and the down-on-his-luck Irish musician who discovers them.
<b>Wadjda </b><br> Directed by the first ever female Saudi filmmaker, Haifaa Al Mansour, Wadjda features an all-Saudi cast and was shot entirely in Saudi Arabia. The film follows a 10-year-old school girl who challenges her country’s traditions.
<b>Amour</b><br> The winner of the Cannes Palme d'Or this year, this French drama is a poignant story of love and loss that follows two married classical music teachers in their eighties as they struggle with age and illness. Directed by Michael Hanke, the film explores the true meaning of life and what it means to love.
<b>Cirque Du Soleil: World’s Away 3D</b><br> Backed by Avatar director, James Cameron, this fantasy love story brings together the wonders of the stage with the magic of the big screen, all in immersive 3D. As the aerial gymnasts tell their story through leaps and bounds, the audience is sure to be amazed.
<b>The Master</b><br> Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson of There Will Be Blood fame, The Master is a chilling drama about a World War II veteran who struggles to return to society played by Joaquin Phoenix. In the midst of finding himself, he discovers a new religious cult and strikes a relationship with its erudite leader, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman.
<b>Rust and Bone</b><br> Starring Oscar-winning French actress Marion Cotillard (recently seen in The Dark Knight), Rust and Bone is a gritty, emotional romance between a whale-trainer who loses both her legs in a freak accident and a single father.
<b>Hyde Park on Hudson</b><br> Bill Murray and Laura Linney star in this amusing period film that centres on US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his relationships with the women around him, particularly a distant cousin with whom he is reportedly having an affair. Add in a royal visit from the reigning British monarch and this becomes a must watch for any fans of history.
<b>Thy Womb </b><br> Thy Womb (Sinapupunana) is the critically-acclaimed Filipino drama starring Nora Aunor and directed by renonwned filmmaker Brilliante Mendoza, tells the story of a midwife who struggles with her own infertility.

With the ninth edition of the Dubai International Film Festival kicking off on Dec 9, we take a look at ten films that you just can't miss.

Latest stories